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Sunday, March 3, 2013

We love all parts of the Kentucky Boys' Basketball Championship, and we have fun tracking results from all across the Commonwealth. But there is no place like home, and no region I enjoy as much as the First.

Since Murray State needed its gym yesterday -- so the Racers could lose at home to SEMO -- the First Region final will take place this afternoon. The Graves County Eagles (25-8) will be heavily favored to defeat the Calloway County Lakers (23-8) and return to the State Tournament for the first time since 2009. Since its creation in the mid-1980's, Graves has gone to State in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006, and 2009. Graves County's record in the State Tournament is 3-7, but the 2006 team went all the way to the State Semi-Finals. Calloway's only trip to State was in 2003 -- the Lakers lost in the first round.

These two teams met back on December 14 at Graves, and the Eagles beat the Lakers 52-43.

Today's winner will play Ohio County in the State Tournament.

The game is being broadcast on WNBS, which can be found at 1340 on your AM dial or on the Internet. Right now we are in the midst of a one-hour pre-game show that is making me extremely homesick. Further observations will be posted in the comments.

Graves takes advantage of a technical on Calloway, and leads 17-9 after one quarter.

The color commentator on Froggyland is in despair. He says that since Calloway has fallen so far behind, they may not be able to play the zone after all. He was also furious about how Calloway played the last defensive possession. The Lakers opened with a zone, and then switched to a man-to-man -- which quickly turned into free throws for Graves.

With 26 seconds to go in the third, Graves calls time to set up a final play. Graves's shot is blocked, but the ball goes out to an Eagle who hits a three-pointer at buzzer. With 8 minutes to go, the Eagles lead 45-34.

With Graves County leading 58-44, and just a few minutes left, a Graves player commits a foul to prevent a layup. One of the Graves fans yells "Good foul." On Froggyland, the commentators say that this is totally wrong, as Graves doesn't want to stop the clock for any reason. They express hope that the Graves fans will put away the stupid pills.

To be fair, the Froggyland guys are being good sports about the whole thing. They assure us that Calloway has been beaten by a better team.

Zach Greenwell of Bowling Green's Daily News reports that Warren Central played 12 players in the first quarter. The Dragons are pressing, and the Laker Country radio guys say Russell County is definitely disturbed by the pace and intensity. Warren Central leads, 22-15. Tyler Robertson, the Russell County senior who scored 38 in the semifinals, is playing with two fouls.

Dragons surge to a 44-35 advantage. Laker Country: "That's how Coach Unseld does it. If you make a good play and are a little gassed, he pulls you out and sits you down for about 30 seconds and then sends you back in there."

47-46 ... 2:19 to go ... Warren Central then throws away an inbounds pass (I think), but the refs rule that they had allowed a timeout call from the bench before the play (I think) ... whatever, it will be Dragon ball ...

9-7, Holmes, midway through first quarter ... four three-pointers between the teams so far ... "I'm not even going to try to keep up with lead changes," admits the Tri State Sports Radio/iHigh.com play-by-play dude.

I will gladly contribute money to help Tri State Sports Radio pay anyone who normally broadcasts high school basketball on the radio to call these games. I'm sure the guys from Fleming County could have done this game -- or you could have hired the guys who normally do Mason County. Just anyone who understands radio broadcasting.

Holmes surge--led by its own big star, James Bolden--pulls Bulldogs into 31-31 tie late in the first half, but CovCath goes into the break with a 35-31 advantage. And then, per the Tri State Sports Radio/iHigh.com guys, CovCath coach Ruthsatz got into some broohaha before heading into the locker room.